[1964]DLHC9278 • November 20, 1964 • High Court
AYER vs. KUMORDZIE
The plaintiff, a hairdresser and seamstress since 1952, lived with the defendant under customary law marriage. She brought personal and customer-owned goods into the cohabitation. After falling ill and leaving the defendant's home, the defendant refused to return certain goods. The plaintiff sought return of her goods and damages for wrongful detention.
read moreJUDGMENT OF BOISON J. The plaintiff by her writ of summons claimed the return of her goods wrongfully detained by the defendant and £G500 damages for wrongful detention or in the alternative, £G2,500 damages. The goods referred to in the statement of claim as the said chattels “are lots 1, 2, 3, attached to the statement of claim.” The agreed issues were: “(a) Whether or not the plaintiff is the owner of and entitled to the possession of the chattels the subject-matter of the suit. (b) Whether the plaintiff and the defendant lived and cohabited as concubines or under customary law and whether the defendant under any customary law is entitled to detain or impound the plaintiff’s chattels under the circumstances. (c) Whether or not the defendant has any claim or any right at all over properties bought by him, to the plaintiff during their stay together. (d) Whether or not the plaintiff has suffered loss and damages by the wrongful detention of her properties by the defend...